Qaa'ed Al Shabaab Eau de Parfum bottle Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Edp Concentration Edp
U Gender U
2021 Year 2017
£ Price Tier ££££
Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel Eau de Parfum bottle Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Our Verdict

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab and Oud Essentiel both feature leather and oud, but cater to different preferences. Al Shabaab is a raw, intensely leathery fragrance that leans into an industrial, almost challenging profile. Oud Essentiel offers a smoother, more refined take on the leather-oud combination. It's more balanced and accessible, with saffron and rose softening the edges. Al Shabaab is a daring, budget-friendly choice for hardcore leather lovers, while Oud Essentiel provides a luxurious, polished experience for those seeking a Westernized oud.

ScentArt

View Liquid → Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
View Liquid → Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel

Which Should You Buy?

Choose Qaa'ed Al Shabaab if...
  • You want a bold, unapologetic leather experience.
  • You love challenging, industrial-style scents.
  • You're on a budget but want niche quality.
  • You want maximum performance and longevity.
Choose Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel if...
  • You prefer a refined, balanced oud scent.
  • You like leather softened by rose and saffron.
  • You want a luxurious, designer fragrance.
  • You want a smoother, more accessible oud.
Our Verdict - Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
This is a bold, uncompromising leather bomb of a fragrance, not for the faint-hearted. It’s a polarizing scent that people either adore for its raw, authentic leather and outstanding performance, or recoil from its intense, industrial edge. If you’re into serious leather, this Lattafa offers niche quality at a bargain price.
Acquired
Our Verdict - Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Thierry Wasser's resin-saffron-leather oud for Les Absolus d'Orient - Western-tailored Arabian oud done right, with bone-dry agarwood, smoky olibanum and a leather-rose backbone. The polished niche oud Western buyers reach for.
Acquired

Scent Profile

Citrus Floral Fruity Green Sweet Warm Woody Earthy Animalic Fresh
Citrus 0% 2%
Floral 35% 18%
Fruity 10% 0%
Green 0% 3%
Sweet 16% 7%
Warm 9% 27%
Woody 21% 27%
Earthy 10% 20%
Animalic 31% 24%
Fresh 2% 5%

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding
Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EdP
Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel EdP

Notes

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Only in Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Osmanthus 53% Ylang-Ylang 47%
Only in Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Saffron 62% Geranium 38%
Shared Notes
Cedar 33% vs 27%
Only in Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Leather 67%
Only in Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Oud 43% Rose 30%
Only in Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Leather 40% Frankincense 35% Guaiac Wood 26%

Accords

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
100%
Leather
89%
79%
Oud
100%
71%
Animalic
52%
61%
Amber
69%
68%
Woody
68%
Rose
66%
64%
Floral
58%
Fruity
51%
Smoky
47%
Metallic
49%
45%
Sweet
Leather shared
100%
89%
Oud shared
79%
100%
Animalic shared
71%
52%
Amber shared
61%
69%
Woody shared
68%
68%
66%
64%
58%
Smoky shared
51%
47%
49%
45%

Performance

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
Long (6-10h)
Longevity
Beast (10+h)
Strong
Projection
Strong
Strong
Intensity
Strong

Season and Occasion Fit

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

A cold-weather scent - best worn in winter and autumn.

Occasions

Also Works:
Date Casual

Its nuclear performance and intensely strong, animalic leather accord make it too overwhelming for polite office settings. It's best suited for casual evening wear or specific 'bad boy' occasions rather than formal events, though a subtle hand on a cold-weather date might work.

Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

Fragrantica voters split 100% winter, 88.9% fall - the resinous oud-leather-incense composition is firmly cold-weather. Summer at 18.3% is the weakest fit because the smoky depth feels oppressive in heat.

Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

Night-coded at 90.1% of voters - the leather-incense-oud profile is firmly evening wear. Formal occasions and date nights where statement projection is welcome are the natural setting; office is risky on more than a single light spray; casual is weaker fit.

Similarity Breakdown

Overall
77%
Olfactory
82%
Notes
80%
Accord
67%
Key Similarities

Both share Oud, Leather, Amber accords and Cedar, Leather notes

Key Differences

Subtle differences in overall composition

Where to buy

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Les Absolus d'Orient Oud Essentiel
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